The Tourism Society - People in all the right places

VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.  VSO's high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action, and change lives to make the world a fairer place for all. The economy of Tajikistan suffered setbacks as a result of the civil war in the 1990s, multiple small scale natural disasters and the dependence of the economy on a few sectors including cotton and remittances from Russia. In response to the economic difficulties, Tajikistan Government wants to develop the tourism industry.

Currently we have five vacancies for a variety of tourism and eco-tourism professionals to work in Tajikistan for between 9-24 months. Each requires tourism specialist with at least 2 years of professional experience and I have attached a short summary of the roles.

Hospitality advisor, Tajikistan, 12 months
You’ll provide your expertise to help develop an improved understanding of contemporary standards in hospitality and service (hotel and restaurant businesses), ensuring the next generation of tourism professionals will be better equipped to take up jobs and provide jobs for others throughout the tourism value chain. 
You’ll have a degree in tourism or a related field to hospitality management paired with a least 3 years experience of managing a reputable hotel or restaurant - ideally with experience of attracting international clientele. You’ll have experience of managing and advising staff and providing on-the-job training at all levels of the hospitality business. You’ll need strong marketing expertise and experience.

New business advisor for tourism, Tajikistan, 12 months
You’ll use your vast experience of tourism business develop and marketing to develop skills with in Tajikistan tourism industry and deliver recommendations to realise Tajikistan’s tourism potential.
You’ll have a degree in tourism or a related business field paired with extensive practical experience of the tourism and hospitality sector.  You’ll need to demonstrate your experience of developing high-level tourism plans as well as skills in small business development, ideally in hospitality or tourism. You’ll have strong communication and facilitation skills to pass on your extensive marketing experience.

Tourism strategy advisor, Tajikistan, 12 months
We are now looking for a very experienced tourism specialist to help the Free Economic Zone to pioneer responsible tourism and hospitality development in the historic city of Khojand to enable to generation of more business and employment opportunities in to Central Asia’s poorest countries. Working with staff at the FEZ, you’ll provide technical tourism business development support to develop a realistic strategy for tourism and hospitality development.
You’ll have a degree in business development, tourism development or a related field and at least 3 years experience of working at a senior level in the tourism sector. You’ll have an excellent understanding of business management and organisational development paired with experience of raising investment or funding for tourism development.

Tourism Marketing and PR advisor, Tajikistan, 12 months
We are looking for an experienced tourism specialist with marketing and PR expertise to build the capacity of the Tajikistan government to realise Tajikistan’s tourism potential. You’ll have a degree in tourism or a related business field paired with extensive practical experience of the tourism and hospitality sector.  You’ll need to demonstrate your experience of developing high-level tourism plans as well as skills in small business development, ideally in hospitality or tourism. You’ll have strong communication and facilitation skills to pass on your extensive marketing experience.

Tourism board development advisor, Tajikistan, 24 months
You will use your extensive experience of tourism business development to support the Zerafshan Tourism Board (ZTB)to develop a viable and sustainable membership body for the promotion of regional tourism and representation of tourism development interests. You will support ZTB staff to develop an independent and financially sustainable organisation. You’ll have a degree in Tourism or business. You will need extensive experience of managing small businesses in the tourism or hospitality sector as well as experience of membership bodies and the development of membership services and financial stability.

The VSO package
We’ll ask you to commit 12- 24 months to make a sustainable contribution to development goals and in return we’ll provide you with invaluable training before your placement, a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation and insurance. When you return to your home country we’ll help you resettle and we’ll invite you to stay involved with us through campaigning, development awareness raising and fundraising.

Interested? For more information and to apply go to www.vso.org.uk/volunteer/apply-now or email elizabeth.bowen@vso.org.uk